The Big Data Bowl: Where Data Scientists Compete to Revolutionize Football Analytics
The NFL Combine is not the only place where top talent is being evaluated in the world of football. In a convention center ballroom in Indianapolis, a different kind of “combine” is taking place, where data scientists are competing in the Big Data Bowl.
Launched by the NFL in 2018, the Big Data Bowl challenges teams of researchers to apply analytics and AI tools to football data. This competition has gained traction over the years, with more than 300 entries in 2024 being narrowed down to five finalist teams.
The goal of the Big Data Bowl is to gain insights that have real meaning in football. By analyzing player tracking data collected through computer chips in shoulder pads and the ball, researchers can understand not just what happened on the field, but why it happened. This allows for a deeper understanding of player contributions beyond traditional statistics.
One of the key aspects of the Big Data Bowl is the use of machine learning to predict outcomes and probabilities in football. By combining human-derived analytics with predictive algorithms, researchers can uncover new insights that were previously inaccessible.
The 2024 Big Data Bowl focused on tackling, with teams using tracking data to develop new metrics for evaluating defensive players. The winning team, comprised of graduate students from Princeton, used decision trees to improve tackle predictions and identify missed tackles.
While the metrics developed in the Big Data Bowl are still evolving, they are already making an impact on how NFL teams evaluate players. The Los Angeles Rams, for example, are shifting their focus from traditional Combine events to tracking data to assess football-specific skills.
As the use of data and analytics continues to grow in football, the Big Data Bowl serves as a platform for innovation and collaboration among data scientists, researchers, and football enthusiasts. With each year’s competition, new insights are uncovered that have the potential to revolutionize the game of football.